Irritated by statements of some alleged economists to the effect that, except for changes in the appearance of motor-cars, the automobile industry has stood still for the last five years, the author of this paper, who is affectionately regarded as the dean of automobile engineering in this Country, spoke at meetings of the Philadelphia and Metropolitan Sections of the Society on the many car and engine improvements made in recent years.
Mr. Crane's remarks, as reported stenographically and embodied in this paper, deal chiefly with engines. He points out that extensive highway improvement and the consequent public demand for higher car speed have forced engineers to design more powerful and more versatile engines without increasing the weight.
High-speed engines were of necessity the answer, and these brought the problem of eliminating roughness of operation and preventing transmission of vibration to the chassis. The solution has been found in using a larger number of cylinders of small size and in the flexible suspension of engines of four and six cylinders.
In-line and V-type engines of 4 to 16 cylinders are discussed, and, in answers to questions, the speaker considers horizontal opposed and air-cooled and high-temperature liquid-cooled engines for streamline cars.
The present and probable future trend in car design is also considered.